Stain-filled food storage containers are problematic because, despite being cleaned and sanitized in the dishwasher, they never feel completely clean.
Eating a lovely, fresh salad, for example, is difficult to get enthused about when you’re eating it out of a container that still has stains from last month’s chilli pot. Yes, that was tasty, but you don’t want to think about it while eating those greens!
The discoloured storage containers in our home are relegated to the back of the cupboard because no one uses them and we feel bad about throwing them out, so they just take up space.
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How To Clean Food Storage Container
Remove Difficult Residue
Here, speed is usually your friend. Once you’ve finished eating everything inside, empty the container and give it a quick rinse in warm water with a dash of dish detergent to help soften any remaining fat and sauce. Put the container upside down on the top rack of your dishwasher and slide the lid between the tines vertically if you have one. If not, immediately wash the pieces in the sink for a short while.
Use Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray to treat the area; its potent solvents will tackle even the most stubborn stains. After 30 minutes, let it sit and then rinse. Use two teaspoons of bleach to one gallon of warm water if stains are still present.
After letting it soak for 15 to 30 minutes, remove it and use a brush and dish soap to give it a thorough clean. Final gasp? The sunshine from a windowsill in direct sunlight may help lighten stains. Place the container there.
Eliminate Persistent Odors
Even if those hot string beans were great last week, you don’t want to smell them today! Because plastic containers are more porous than glass ones, you should first give them a brief rinse before applying a homemade paste made of one cup water and one tablespoon baking soda. Allow it to sit for a few hours, then use water and dish soap to wash the container.
Put any gaskets or silicone containers that smell bad into the oven. (Just ensure they can be baked in the oven, and wash and dry them first.) Bake the offending things for twenty minutes at 170 degrees Fahrenheit. They ought to smell, well, like nothing after they leave!
Clear Up Cloudy Film
One of two things might be the cause if your once-clear containers appear a little opaque. The first is mineral-depositing hard water. Consider equipping your dishwasher with a rinse aid. Finish Jet-Dry Hard Water Rinse Aid is our favorite. It can lessen stains on dry dishes and is designed to get rid of residue from hard water. Another reason could be oil and grease that has baked on. Try that baking soda paste or Dawn Powerwash again.
Clean Out Fuzzy Mold
Ignored the turkey sandwich, did you? Using a paper towel, remove as much of the mold and tainted food as you can. (Avoid using your sponge for this, as spores can spread quickly.) After that, you can clean as usual, but if you want to be extra thorough, immerse the lid and container in the bleach and water solution for half an hour. Using a straw cleaning brush, enter the grooves of the lid.
After the bath, wash everything with soap and water to remove any leftover bleach. Keep the containers in the front of the refrigerator first in, first out going forward. A turkey sandwich is a dreadful thing to squander, after all!
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